Coming Saturday Nov. 12: The ASME

Open Source Microcontroller Workshop!

Bringing together Engineers, Educators, Students, Hobbyists and Entrepreneurs -- to learn and share knowledge and experiences.

A one-day workshop to learn about and play with open-source microcontrollers. Open to members and friends of the ASME Fox Valley chapter. (Early registration is suggested. We will try to fit everyone in, but preference will be given to pre-registrants in case of seminar overflow.)

Who is this workshop for?Anyone between 13 and 103 who are interested in learning about open-source technology and sharing their ideas.What will I do?See a dozen projects (both simple and complex) that merge computers with machines to do fun and/or useful tasks. Learn how to make one yourself.When does this happen?Saturday Nov. 12, from 9am to 2pm. Some presentations and hands-on classes will have definite times, but show & tell from project makers will go on the whole time.Where do I go?The IIT-Rice campus (2nd floor) in Wheaton (north side of Butterfield Rd. near Danada.)What will it cost?The base workshop costs $10. Middle & High School teams are $40 for up to 8 students plus teacher (additional students are $5 each). Optional materials may cost extra.Why would I want to do this?Listen to interesting people, see unusual machines, meet the next generation of America's creators. Learn to solder, or program a microcontroller, or use a strain gage. AND share your own expertise! (And for engineers; get PDH hours.)

Background info for the Open Source* Microcontroller Workshop

MOTIVATION

This 5-hour workshop is intended as a fun event aimed at industry, open-source hobbyists, and at the science education field. As well, a goal is to provide mentoring and support for students and educators for the advancement of engineering and science.

THE TECHNOLOGY

Open-Source* microcontrollers provide solutions to a diverse range of applications in a variety of fields ranging from the arts to science and technology. For schools they are an excellent & cheap step into motion control. We’ll do some simple projects, and show off complicated projects.

TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTS

This workshop is still under construction. We think it will have 3 main aspects:

An opportunity for makers to show off their projects at display tables (the makers can be individuals or school groups and will selected by the organizers based on written applications)

Highlighted presentations in the seminar room, where 3-5 selected projects are described in detail by their makers

Classes and hands-on experimentation:

Programming and use of Arduino type micro-controllers (presented by Workshop88)

Introduction to soldering, likely hourly (presented by Dwayne and Dale at 2Dkits.com NOTE: Because soldering irons are hot and can burn you, the hands-on activities will require you to read & sign a waiver.)

An introduction to strain gauges and force sensing (presented by Bill from ASME)

A few vendors in the field of microcontrollers have been invited, but the workshop is not intended to be a commercial show.

CALL FOR PRESENTERS & VOLUNTEERS

As the planners, ASME Fox Valley members and friends are encouraged to attend and participate. We are seeking members interested volunteering formally or informally. Especially skills such as data acquisition, motion control, signal processing will be great resources. Early registration is suggested. Preference will be given to pre-registrants in case of seminar overflow.

* Initially focused on software, the term “open source” has come to loosely indicate any kind of product or project with freely shared instructions or design; and thus completely adaptable by others. On the border between the mechanical and electrical arts, the Open Source community has spawned microcontrollers to make electronic control accessible to anyone working or playing with mechatronics, robotics, automation, etc. One design (manufactured by various vendors) called an Arduino will be used in this workshop, it can be home-built, or pre-built versions are available from various vendors for $15-$40. Arduinos and accessories will be available for purchase.